title: External fixation or plaster cast for severely displaced Colles' fractures? Prospective 1-year study of 46 patients.
abstract: In a prospective randomized study of 47 severely displaced Colles' fractures, 23 had external fixation and 24 had a dorsal plaster cast. Five fractures in the plaster-cast group redislocated and were externally fixed at rereduction after the 11-day follow-up. Three patients in the external-fixation group had a noncomplicated pin-tract infection, and 1 patient had a transient sensory disturbance arising from the cutaneous branch of the superficial radial nerve. After 1 year, the patients allocated to primary external fixation had a better radiographic and functional end result; according to Lidström's grading, 19/22 were excellent or good after external fixation as compared with 12/19 after plaster-cast treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Danderyd Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abbaszadegan
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jonsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D003100:Colles' Fracture / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence